JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS – 20

A Hectic Punjab Tour

It was the time after Thiruvananthapuram All India Conference of E.III Union (NFTE)in 1994. Membership Verification of unions for recognition was in the agenda. Government, DOT, NFTE (Gupta) combined team attacking E.III Union and mass transfers of its office bearers at all levels. Hectic tours being organized by union. Following is an example of the tour programme organized in Punjab during September 1995.

The tour is in vehicle with some of our senior  comrades, who have been leading the movement for years together despite heavy attacks from the government. They have sacrificed a lot for the progressive movement. It was to strengthen the progressive section and prepare for the verification that the tour was organised to all the important cities of Punjab, the land of the five rivers.  

24th.Sept. – Started from Delhi at 13.00 hours – Bus from ISBT to Chandigarh. Reached Chandigarh at 19.00 hours. Circle Secretaries Com. H.S.Dhillon (E.III) and R.L.Moudgil (T.III)( now State Sectt. Member CPI(M), Gurcharan Singh, Vice President, CHQ  received at Bus stand. Discussion about tour. Stayed in office in the night.

25th. Sept. – Met Com. Baldev Singh, CC Member, CPI(M). At 08.00 started by Jeep along with Comrades Gurcharan Singh, H.S.Dhillon, R.L.Moudgil and Swaran Singh. Driver also union comrade. Reached at Ropar, a small exchange. Discussed with the comrades there, explained certain issues. Next meeting at Navshahar. Received by Coms. Mahajan and Banka DS. Small meeting. By about 15.00 hours Hoshiarpur. Two brief meetings at TRA and Exchange / DMT Office. Next stop at Pathankot, where Railway Comrades became martyrs in 1968 September 19 strike. Meeting held at residence of Com. Mahajan DS, T.III. since opposition by officers at office. Stay and food also there.

26th Sept. – Despite strong objection and threat by officers, a meeting organized in front of Pathankot exchange. Another meeting at TRAO office. Com. Satpal Singh reached. Meeting first at Gurudaspur and then at Batala. Stay at Satpal Singh’s house.

27th Sept.  – Early morning started for Amritsar. City of Golden Temple and Jalianwala Bagh. Though members are very less, held a meeting at Amritsar. OPG’s followers  tried to stop entering the office. I  alone went to Trunk room daring them to attack me  and spoke for about half an hour to the employees numbering about 30 , despite opposition from the top officers. Others were not allowed to accompany me. Another meeting at Telegraph Office. Then journey to Jalandhar. Big city. A well attended meeting there. Stayed at office.

28th Sept. – Started for Ludhiana, big manufacturing city. Separate meetings at GMT(O), TRA etc. Very big meeting at telephone exchange. Place of Com. Gurcharan Singh, All India Vice-President. That of Coms. Balbir Singh ( later All India President) and Balbinder Singh. Next meeting at Moga participated by a large number of workers. Dt. Secretary Com. Jaswant Singh. Two more meetings at Faridkot and Firozpur. Stay at Com. Kamaljit Singh’s home at Moga.

29th – Continues journey from Moga and attended meetings at Kotkapura, Muktsar, Malot, Bhatinda and reached Sangrur. Stay at office.

30th – Very good meeting at Sangrur in the morning. Next meeting at Patiala. Though the fort of the revisionists and we had no members, held meeting. Questions asked  by rival union members and answered effectively. By the time the meeting was over, many joined our union. Returned to Chandigarh in the evening. In the night by bus to Delhi and reached capital next day morning.

Almost all the important centres covered in Punjab in seven days and meetings held at about 30 centres. Mostly there will be no time for lunch and managed by snacks or fruits in the vehicle so that within the limited time , all the places could be covered. Hectic tour as usual. Punjab which was a strong fort of the revisionists, within years came to our side. Thanks to the Punjab Comrades!

V A N Namboodiri   23.10.2024